Lost & Found Services in Maine

Discover how to report or find lost items across major cities in Maine. We help you connect with local services, transportation hubs, and more.

Most Populated Cities in Maine

Portland

Lewiston

Bangor

South Portland

Auburn

Scarborough

How Lost & Found Works in Maine

Maine has an actual statute for this, which puts it ahead of many states. Title 25, Chapter 401 spells out what a finder and a law enforcement agency are supposed to do with lost, mislaid or stolen personal property, including a specific waiting period before anyone else can claim it. Maine also has a criminal statute that covers what happens when someone keeps property they know isn't theirs.

ReportLost is an independent service. A free report creates a public listing; paid options add public-web monitoring, and the $25 team-assisted option also includes relevant local outreach. Agencies and venues set their own filing and holding procedures.

What the Law Says in Maine

Property returned to finder (25 M.R.S. §3507)

Maine law lets any person who finds property surrender it to a law enforcement agency. That agency then becomes responsible for logging it and trying to locate the owner, which is why filing a report with the department nearest to where you lost something matters.

30 day holding period (25 M.R.S. Chapter 401)

Once property is turned in, Maine's statute requires the owner or another person entitled to possession to be identified within a set window, at least 30 days from the initial date the property is logged, before the department can move toward disposing of it. This gives a real, if modest, window to file a report and get matched.

Custody and return duties (25 M.R.S. §3502)

Property believed to be abandoned, lost or stolen must be retained in custody by the chief of police or the law enforcement agency that received it. That custody requirement is the backbone of why calling or filing with the department directly is more useful in Maine than waiting and hoping.

Theft of lost, mislaid or mistakenly delivered property (17-A M.R.S. §356-A)

Maine's criminal code makes it a crime to knowingly keep lost, mislaid or mistakenly delivered property instead of trying to return it to its owner. The offense is treated more seriously when the property is worth more than $10,000 or when it is a firearm, which shows how much Maine law leans toward returning property rather than letting a finder keep it.

Statewide unclaimed property program

Maine's Unclaimed Property program, run out of the Treasurer's Office, handles unclaimed financial accounts and similar assets separately from personal items found in public. It is a useful backstop for things like old accounts, but it is not where your lost phone or wallet will show up. Local police property rooms are.

Where items end up in Maine

Lost items in Maine tend to surface at Portland International Jetport, Bangor International Airport, on Greater Portland METRO buses, at ferry terminals serving the islands, at L.L. Bean and other retail anchors, at Acadia National Park and other state park sites, and at hotels, restaurants and event venues across Portland, Bangor, Augusta and the coastal tourist towns. The city pages below list local contacts. ReportLost is independent; its free public listing, six-month automatic monitoring and twelve-month team-assisted option are described on the report form.

Lost something in Maine?

A free report creates a public listing. The $12 option adds six months of automatic monitoring, a ReportLost certificate, an anonymous case address, and QR stickers. The $25 option adds manual research, direct service contact, report submission, local social sharing, and 12 months of monitoring.

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Maine Lost & Found FAQ

Do I get my item back if someone turned it in?

Yes, once you can prove ownership. Departments in Maine typically ask for a description, and it helps to be ready with a private verification detail such as a serial number, an engraving, a saved photo, or the contents of a bag, something only the real owner would know.

Is a reward mandatory in Maine?

No. Maine's statute doesn't require a reward for a finder or a police department to offer one. Offering a reward is always your choice, and it can sometimes speed up a return, but it is never required by law.

How long does a police department in Maine have to hold my item before it's considered unclaimed?

Under Title 25, Chapter 401, at least 30 days from the initial date the property is logged before the department can treat it as unclaimed and move toward disposal. Practices on exactly how disposal happens can vary by department.

What happens if someone keeps my lost item instead of turning it in?

Maine's theft statute, 17-A M.R.S. §356-A, makes it a crime to knowingly retain lost, mislaid or mistakenly delivered property instead of trying to return it. The offense is more serious when the value is over $10,000 or the item is a firearm.

Should I go straight to the airport or transit agency instead of the police?

Airports, transit agencies and venues often keep their own lost and found logs before an item is surrendered to a law enforcement agency under §3507. Their records are separate, so contact the organization relevant to where the item may have been left.

This page provides general information about Maine law as of publication and is not legal advice. Procedures vary by city and department, verify details with your local authorities. Last reviewed: July 2026.

All Cities We Cover in Maine

Each city page lists the local lost & found contacts and how to report a loss there.